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| Gaza: Nakba day protests as Palestinians bury those killed in embassy unrest – live updates | Gaza: Nakba day protests as Palestinians bury those killed in embassy unrest – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The humanitarian NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which is treating some of the wounded Palestinians in Gaza, has issued a strongly-worded statement against Israel’s “disproportionate” use of force. | |
| It said Monday’s events were “unacceptable and inhuman”. The statement added: | |
| It is unbearable to witness such a massive number of unarmed people being shot in such a short time. | |
| Our medical teams are working around the clock, as they have done since 1 April. providing surgical and postoperative care to men, women, and children, and they will continue to do so tonight, tomorrow, and as long as they are needed. In one of the hospitals where we are working, the chaotic situation is comparable to what we observed after the bombings of the 2014 war, with a colossal influx of injured people in a few hours, completely overwhelming the medical staff. Our teams carried out more than 30 surgical interventions today, sometimes on two or three patients in the same operating theatre, and even in the corridors. | |
| This bloodbath is the continuation of the Israeli army’s policy during the last seven weeks: shooting with live ammunition at demonstrators, on the assumption that anyone approaching the separation fence is a legitimate target. Most of the wounded will be condemned to suffer lifelong injuries. | |
| The Israeli army must stop its disproportionate use of violence against Palestinian protesters. | |
| There has been furious diplomatic reaction to the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem and Israel’s violent response to the protests. | |
| UN general secretary António Guterres said he is “profoundly alarmed and concerned by the sharp escalation of violence and the number of Palestinians killed and injured in the Gaza protests.” He also called for restraint on both sides. | |
| I am profoundly alarmed and concerned by the sharp escalation of violence and the number of Palestinians killed and injured in the Gaza protests. It is imperative that everyone shows the utmost restraint to avoid further loss of life. | |
| Jordan’s King Abdullah II took to Twitter to say the embassy move would have “dangerous implications” for security and “provoke Muslims and Christians.” | |
| His Majesty King Abdullah II, in phone call with President Emmanuel Macron, warns that moving the US embassy will have dangerous implications on security and stability in the Middle East, and will provoke Muslims and Christians #Jordan | |
| Thousands of people gathered in Turkey to protest at the embassy move. Turkey says its ambassador to the US is being recalled to Ankara. | |
| Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced that Palestinian leadership in the West Bank had decided to file a war crimes complaint against Israel with the International Criminal Court. | |
| Kuwait is trying to persuade the UN security council to back a statement condemning the violence. The security council will meet later on Tuesday. | |
| The UK has expressed alarm about the volume of live fire used by Israel against the protesters. | |
| South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel on Monday. | |
| The Palestinian baby who died from teargas inhalation in Monday’s protests has been named as Laila al-Ghandour, according to Haaretz. | The Palestinian baby who died from teargas inhalation in Monday’s protests has been named as Laila al-Ghandour, according to Haaretz. |
| #BREAKING: 8-month-old Laila Al-Ghandoor died tonight after suffering from tear gas inhalation during the #GreatReturnMarch protests yesterday - #Gaza MoH. @realDonaldTrump blocked #UNSC resolution condemning the killing of 59 Palestinians, including 7 minors, by Israeli forces pic.twitter.com/mml3AAzJk5 | #BREAKING: 8-month-old Laila Al-Ghandoor died tonight after suffering from tear gas inhalation during the #GreatReturnMarch protests yesterday - #Gaza MoH. @realDonaldTrump blocked #UNSC resolution condemning the killing of 59 Palestinians, including 7 minors, by Israeli forces pic.twitter.com/mml3AAzJk5 |
| AFP has a powerful image of her mother cradling her daughter’s body at a morgue. | AFP has a powerful image of her mother cradling her daughter’s body at a morgue. |
| Reuters photographer Ibraheem Abu Mustafa said he came across an acquaintance who uses a wheelchair on Monday morning as he was covering the protest. | Reuters photographer Ibraheem Abu Mustafa said he came across an acquaintance who uses a wheelchair on Monday morning as he was covering the protest. |
| “Today, this morning, I said ‘Hi’ to a man,” he recalls. “By the end of the day I was at his funeral.” | “Today, this morning, I said ‘Hi’ to a man,” he recalls. “By the end of the day I was at his funeral.” |
| The victim in the wheelchair was not named by Reuters. Last week pictures circulated of Fadi Abu Saleh in a wheelchair using a sling shot in protests in Gaza. He was reported to be one Monday’s victims of Israeli gunfire. | The victim in the wheelchair was not named by Reuters. Last week pictures circulated of Fadi Abu Saleh in a wheelchair using a sling shot in protests in Gaza. He was reported to be one Monday’s victims of Israeli gunfire. |
| This photo of Fadi Abu Saleh, a Palestinian in Gaza confronting Israeli soldiers, was widely circulated last week. Israeli troops shot him dead today pic.twitter.com/MbUmF22m6j | This photo of Fadi Abu Saleh, a Palestinian in Gaza confronting Israeli soldiers, was widely circulated last week. Israeli troops shot him dead today pic.twitter.com/MbUmF22m6j |
| Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, has defended Israel’s use of live fire against the Palestinian protesters. | Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, has defended Israel’s use of live fire against the Palestinian protesters. |
| In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Regev insisted that the use of force was “measured” and “surgical” and aimed at protecting Israeli citizens. | In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Regev insisted that the use of force was “measured” and “surgical” and aimed at protecting Israeli citizens. |
| He said: “We didn’t want to see this violence in Gaza and we did everything we could to avoid it. We dropped leaflets urging people not to attack the border, we used social media, we used radio and television broadcasts, we didn’t want to see this violence.” | He said: “We didn’t want to see this violence in Gaza and we did everything we could to avoid it. We dropped leaflets urging people not to attack the border, we used social media, we used radio and television broadcasts, we didn’t want to see this violence.” |
| Asked why Israel fired at protesters “throwing the odd rock”, Regev said: “It is far more than the odd rock. You have got people charging the border fence with wire cutters, with explosives, with molotov cocktails, with other weapons. Their goal is clear and Hamas has articulated the goal. The leader of Hamas here [Yahya] Sinwar said our goal is to breach the border, to get inside Israel and to kill Israeli citizens. He said openly we want to tear out their hearts.” | Asked why Israel fired at protesters “throwing the odd rock”, Regev said: “It is far more than the odd rock. You have got people charging the border fence with wire cutters, with explosives, with molotov cocktails, with other weapons. Their goal is clear and Hamas has articulated the goal. The leader of Hamas here [Yahya] Sinwar said our goal is to breach the border, to get inside Israel and to kill Israeli citizens. He said openly we want to tear out their hearts.” |
| Regev added: | Regev added: |
| I reject that this was somehow a spontaneous protest. If people want to protest against Israel inside Gaza, of course they can do so ... but we are talking about people storming the border with the idea to damage the border fence to come into Israel and hurt our people on our side of the frontier. | I reject that this was somehow a spontaneous protest. If people want to protest against Israel inside Gaza, of course they can do so ... but we are talking about people storming the border with the idea to damage the border fence to come into Israel and hurt our people on our side of the frontier. |
| The people of Gaza live a very difficult life. But that’s because they live in a prison controlled by Hamas – a theocratic authoritarian regime that instead of investing its energy and resources into building a better life for the people of Gaza, invests its efforts in a Holy War against Israel. | The people of Gaza live a very difficult life. But that’s because they live in a prison controlled by Hamas – a theocratic authoritarian regime that instead of investing its energy and resources into building a better life for the people of Gaza, invests its efforts in a Holy War against Israel. |
| We used live fire in only a very measured way in a very surgical way and only when there is no alternative. You had some 40,000 people yesterday involved in violent riots on our border. There were continuous attempts to storm the border and breach the border. We have to protect our people. If we allow the Hamas terrorists to enter Israel we will have dead Israelis. We must protect our border. | We used live fire in only a very measured way in a very surgical way and only when there is no alternative. You had some 40,000 people yesterday involved in violent riots on our border. There were continuous attempts to storm the border and breach the border. We have to protect our people. If we allow the Hamas terrorists to enter Israel we will have dead Israelis. We must protect our border. |
| The UN Security Council is set to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the violence along the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, AP reports. | The UN Security Council is set to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the violence along the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, AP reports. |
| Kuwait called for the session after more than 50 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire amid mass protests Monday. Israel said its troops were defending its border. Kuwait circulated a draft of a statement expressing “outrage and sorrow” at the killings and seeking an independent investigation. | Kuwait called for the session after more than 50 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire amid mass protests Monday. Israel said its troops were defending its border. Kuwait circulated a draft of a statement expressing “outrage and sorrow” at the killings and seeking an independent investigation. |
| But two UN diplomats said there wasn’t unanimous agreement to issue the statement. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. | But two UN diplomats said there wasn’t unanimous agreement to issue the statement. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. |
| Earlier on Monday, the Palestinian UN envoy urged the council to condemn the killings. Israel’s ambassador called for condemning Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza and led the protests. | Earlier on Monday, the Palestinian UN envoy urged the council to condemn the killings. Israel’s ambassador called for condemning Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza and led the protests. |
| Alistair Burt, the UK minister for the Middle East, has expressed extreme concern about the “large volume of live fire” by Israel. | Alistair Burt, the UK minister for the Middle East, has expressed extreme concern about the “large volume of live fire” by Israel. |
| But in a carefully-worded statement he also said it was “deplorable” that extremist had sought to exploit the protests. Here’s the statement in full: | But in a carefully-worded statement he also said it was “deplorable” that extremist had sought to exploit the protests. Here’s the statement in full: |
| The violence today in Gaza and the West Bank has been shocking. The loss of life and the large number of injured Palestinians is tragic, and it is extremely worrying that the number of those killed continues to rise. | The violence today in Gaza and the West Bank has been shocking. The loss of life and the large number of injured Palestinians is tragic, and it is extremely worrying that the number of those killed continues to rise. |
| Such violence is destructive to peace efforts. We have been clear that the UK supports the Palestinians’ right to protest, but these protests must be peaceful. | Such violence is destructive to peace efforts. We have been clear that the UK supports the Palestinians’ right to protest, but these protests must be peaceful. |
| It is deplorable that extremist elements may have been seeking to exploit these protests for their own violent purposes. We will not waver from our support for Israel’s right to defend its borders. But the large volume of live fire is extremely concerning. We continue to implore Israel to show greater restraint. | It is deplorable that extremist elements may have been seeking to exploit these protests for their own violent purposes. We will not waver from our support for Israel’s right to defend its borders. But the large volume of live fire is extremely concerning. We continue to implore Israel to show greater restraint. |
| The UK remains committed to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital. All sides now need to show real leadership and courage, promote calm, refrain from inflaming tensions further, and show with renewed urgency that the path to a two-state solution is through negotiation and peace. | The UK remains committed to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital. All sides now need to show real leadership and courage, promote calm, refrain from inflaming tensions further, and show with renewed urgency that the path to a two-state solution is through negotiation and peace. |
| The Israeli military says its aircraft have struck a number of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to Monday’s border protests. | The Israeli military says its aircraft have struck a number of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to Monday’s border protests. |
| The IDF said it struck 11 “terror targets” in a Hamas military compound. Tanks targeted another two Hamas posts in the Gaza Strip. | The IDF said it struck 11 “terror targets” in a Hamas military compound. Tanks targeted another two Hamas posts in the Gaza Strip. |
| The military says that protesters used 10 explosive devices and firebombs against troops and that shots were fired at soldiers positioned along the border. While there was no breach of the border fence, the military says many protesters attempted to enter Israel. | The military says that protesters used 10 explosive devices and firebombs against troops and that shots were fired at soldiers positioned along the border. While there was no breach of the border fence, the military says many protesters attempted to enter Israel. |
| The IDF also warned that further “terror activity will be met with a harsh response”. | The IDF also warned that further “terror activity will be met with a harsh response”. |
| The IDF will continue to prevent mass terror attacks, which have largely been orchestrated by the Hamas terror organization. All terror activity will be met with a harsh response. IDF troops will continue to defend Israel & its civilians | The IDF will continue to prevent mass terror attacks, which have largely been orchestrated by the Hamas terror organization. All terror activity will be met with a harsh response. IDF troops will continue to defend Israel & its civilians |
| The Gaza health ministry said 58 Palestinians were killed on Monday, 57 by gunfire and a baby who was overcome by tear gas inhalation. | The Gaza health ministry said 58 Palestinians were killed on Monday, 57 by gunfire and a baby who was overcome by tear gas inhalation. |
| We are again live blogging the latest from Gaza and the West Bank where further protests are expected when the funerals take place of dozens of Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces on Monday. | We are again live blogging the latest from Gaza and the West Bank where further protests are expected when the funerals take place of dozens of Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces on Monday. |
| Palestinian health officials say 58 people were killed in Gaza when they were protesting over the US opening its new embassy in Jerusalem. | Palestinian health officials say 58 people were killed in Gaza when they were protesting over the US opening its new embassy in Jerusalem. |
| The funerals of those who were killed on Monday are likely to add to the volatility in the occupied territories as they coincide with the day Palestinians mark the 70th anniversary of Nakba, or the catastrophe, when 700,000 people were expelled or fled their homes during the creation of Israel. Today is likely to see the culmination of six weeks of protests. | The funerals of those who were killed on Monday are likely to add to the volatility in the occupied territories as they coincide with the day Palestinians mark the 70th anniversary of Nakba, or the catastrophe, when 700,000 people were expelled or fled their homes during the creation of Israel. Today is likely to see the culmination of six weeks of protests. |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel’s actions as a “massacre”, and described Monday as one of the most violent days the Palestinian nation had seen. He declared three days of mourning and a general strike. | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel’s actions as a “massacre”, and described Monday as one of the most violent days the Palestinian nation had seen. He declared three days of mourning and a general strike. |
| Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Nethanyahu, blamed the Hamas government in Gaza for directing thousands of people to breach the border with and Israel. “Every country has the obligation to defend its borders”, he said. | Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Nethanyahu, blamed the Hamas government in Gaza for directing thousands of people to breach the border with and Israel. “Every country has the obligation to defend its borders”, he said. |
| There is more comment, analysis and reporting of Monday’s events here: | There is more comment, analysis and reporting of Monday’s events here: |
| Death, division and denial as US embassy opens in Jerusalem | Death, division and denial as US embassy opens in Jerusalem |
| Washington praises Jerusalem embassy opening despite Palestinian death toll | Washington praises Jerusalem embassy opening despite Palestinian death toll |
| Rachel Shabi: Trump threw a match into Jerusalem with no plan to put out the fire | Rachel Shabi: Trump threw a match into Jerusalem with no plan to put out the fire |
| The Guardian view on Gaza shootings: stop killing unarmed civilians | The Guardian view on Gaza shootings: stop killing unarmed civilians |